Objective: High-flow hemodialysis accesses are a well-recognized source of patient morbidity. Among available management strategies inflow constriction based on real-time physiologic flow monitoring offers a technically straightforward data-driven approach with potentially low morbidity. Despite the benefits offered by this approach, large contemporary series are lacking.
Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained clinical database was undertaken to capture patients undergoing precision banding within a signal tertiary care institution between 2010 and 2019. Multivariable logistic regression modeling of thrombosis within 30 days and re-banding within 1 year were performed.
Results: In total, 297 patients underwent banding during the study period for a total number of 398 encounters. Median [IQR] follow-up was 157 [52-373] days. Most accesses were upper arm with brachial artery inflow (84%) and half of the banding procedures were performed for flow imbalance based on exam, duplex, or fistulogram. Median flow rate reduction was 58%. The 30-day thrombosis rate after banding was 15 of 397 (3.8%) with a median time to event of 5.5 days (2-102). The re-banding rate within a year was 54 of 398 (14%) with a median time to re-banding of 134 days [56-224]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using a univariate screen did not identify any predictors of 30-day thrombosis. Having a forearm radial-cephalic AVF compared to all other access types was protective against need for rebanding at 1 year (OR 0.12 95% CI 0.02-0.92, p = 0.04), as was flow imbalance as the indication for banding (OR 0.43 95% 0.23-0.79, p = 0.006).
Conclusions: Precision banding offers an effective, low-morbidity approach for high-flow hemodialysis accesses. Early thrombosis is a rare event after precision banding, although in the long term, one in four patients will require re-banding to maintain control of flow volumes.
Keywords: Clinical registry; hemodialysis access; precision banding; quality improvement.